Frank O’Mara won the World Indoor 3,000 metres title at the inaugural World Indoor Championships in Indianapolis in 1987, becoming world indoor champion on the same afternoon that his compatriot Marcus O’Sullivan won the 1,500 metres – an extraordinary double for Irish athletics on a single day.

His Olympic career began at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, where he finished fourth in his 1,500m heat and was eliminated – a result that disguised a career of outstanding athletic distinction.

From Limerick and a former schoolboy star at St Munchin’s College, O’Mara was recruited to the University of Arkansas by legendary coach John McDonnell, where he initially struggled to translate impressive training workouts into race performances.

An introduction to sports psychologist Dr John Childers proved crucial in unlocking the psychological barrier, and after an injury-ridden 1982 season O’Mara ended his Arkansas career by winning the 1983 NCAA 1,500m championship in a field that included Marcus O’Sullivan and two future LA medallists, Joaquim Cruz and Earl Jones.

He returned to Ireland to run a personal best of 3:52.50 in the mile at the Cork City Sports – the third fastest ever by an Irishman – and won the 1983 national 1,500m title. A virus infection curtailed his preparation for Los Angeles.